Emergency Prep & Estate Planning
Both are important topics. And both are the most likely to procrastinate on. If you feel the same, here are a few fast facts from our friends at Trust & Will, brought up during our most recent Safety Series live audio conversations on the Peanut app.
The Most Important Healthcare Documents to Prepare
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A Living Will, HIPAA Authorization Form and Nomination of Powers of Attorney are 3 documents that every caregiver (and every adult over the age of 18) needs
- A Living Will is a formal, legal document that expresses what you would want in regards to medical treatment and interventions. It’s a type of Advance Directive that comes into play if you become incapacitated and are unable to express consent on your own.
- Your Healthcare Power of Attorney lets you appoint someone you trust to make health-related decisions for you if you’re unable to do so for yourself.
- HIPAA ensures information about your personal health cannot be disclosed to any third parties without your consent. A HIPAA Authorization Form allows others to receive confidnetial medical information and potentially act on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated.
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Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to nominate an individual to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and are unable to make financial decisions.
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Most of these healthcare documents are part of a comprehensive Estate Plan, such as a Will or a Trust.
- Anyone over the age of 18.
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Sending your kids away to go to college, traveling abroad etc.
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It’s essential to include healthcare documents in your Estate Plan so that you can make your wishes known and reduce the overall burden on your loved ones should a time come when you’re incapacitated and cannot make decisions on your own.
Considerations for the caregiver:
- What are caregivers most worried about?
- How to prepare others to take care of their children/family in the event that they are no longer able to. An estate plan allows you to nominate guardians for minor children, as well as include detailed wishes on how you’d like your children to be raised.
- What do caregivers usually procrastinate on the most?
- Getting started on an estate plan is something that most people, including caregivers, procrastinate on. People don’t like to think about death, but an estate plan, especially a Living Will, can help prepare your family and loved ones for what could happen during your lifetime.
- What simple things can you do (as the caregiver) to change that and be more prepared should you experience a medical emergency or natural disaster?
- Ensure your Healthcare Documents, especially your HIPAA Authorization Form and Healthcare Power of Attorney are up to date!
For more information, visit trustandwill.com.
If you have additional questions, send them our way!
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